Around this time last year, I was returning from a trip to Chile. It was my first time visiting the country and South America. I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I didn’t know much about the country. I was pleasantly surprised at every turn and look back on the trip with fond memories.

Here are some of my favorite moments:

Experiencing Chilean Cuisine
I expected to eat steak nonstop during my trip — I was wrong. Seafood is a popular protein in Chile, and I ate a variety of seafood dishes during the first few days of my stay in Viña del Mar. Ceviche, sushi, grilled Chilean sea bass and garlic shrimp were among the seafood highlights. Another favorite dish from the trip was empanadas. While I had tried the popular dish before, I thoroughly enjoyed the traditional Chilean preparation with ground beef, olives, raisins and a hard-boiled egg. The unique flavor combination is something I haven’t experienced since.

Exploring Valparaíso
I spent the day exploring the seaport city of Valparaíso during my visit. The colorful city boasts many hills. We traveled by funicular to reach the top. Our tour included viewing street art, stopping in shops, having lunch and enjoying gelato for dessert. My experience in Valparaíso was completely unexpected and unforgettable.

Visiting Museums and a Winery
During my trip, I visited Viña del Mar, Valparaíso and Santiago. I always enjoy seeing local museums, and a highlight from this trip was visiting La Sebastiana, former home of Pablo Neruda. Now a museum, the building was beautiful inside and out, with many charming and quirky decorations.

Another day we made our way to Viñamar Winery for a tasting. Located between Santiago and Viña del Mar, the winery offers picturesque views alongside delicious wines.

— Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director